Simple Blood Test the Secret to Fighting Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and More? Researchers Narrow In On Early Testing

Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***.

In a presentation at the Osteopathic Medical Conference & Exposition (OMED) 2015, researchers from Rowan University outlined their development of a blood test that could detect Alzheimer’s disease before symptoms begin to manifest. This would give physicians and patients alike the opportunity to take risk-reduction efforts at the earliest, most ideal stage of the disease.

The head of the researchers is Dr. Robert Nagele, whose work focuses on detecting the presence of various diseases by using autoantibodies as a marker. An autoantibody is a special type of protein that targets the body’s own substances. In most cases, autoantibodies help dispose of various forms of cellular debris in the blood but certain conditions cause them to act elsewhere.

Nagele’s test is based on how many elements that mark poor vascular health, like high blood pressure or a history of strokes, overlap with conditions associated with a likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s. Vascular difficulties can weaken the vessels in the blood-brain barrier and allow slight leakages of plasma that contain certain autoantibodies. These autoantibodies can bind to neurons and hasten the development of the beta amyloid plaques that are a signature sign of Alzheimer’s. This triggers a change in the body’s autoantibody profile that a blood test can detect.

One of the challenges in treating Alzheimer’s is that the brain begins changing years before symptoms actually start appearing. If the Rowan team’s blood test proves clinically effective, it would be the first time patients and doctors could learn about these changes prior to symptom manifestation. This would enable lifestyle changes, additional treatments, or other measures that could be used to either avoid or delay the most serious parts of Alzheimer’s progression.

The autoantibody blood test has also shown promise in being able to detect other conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and breast cancer. The potential for diagnosing these conditions early will be assessed separately from its potential for Alzheimer’s detection.

Alzheimer’s disease is a degenerative neurological disorder that affects some 5.3 million Americans at the present time.

ABOUT DOCTORS HEALTH PRESS

HEALTHY LIVING

CONNECT WITH US

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as a diagnosis, treatment, preventive, or cure for any disease, disorder, or abnormal physical state, nor should it be considered a substitute for medical care from your doctor. On any matter relating to your health or well-being—and prior to undertaking any health-related activity—consult an appropriate health professional. The opinions herein are exactly that, they are the opinions of the author. Doctors Health Press and its employees are not responsible for medically unsupervised activities that could be harmful to your health. Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***. All of the Doctors Health Press publications come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with your newsletter, you can simply cancel your subscription and receive a pro-rated refund on all undelivered issues. For our books and special reports, we will give you a full refund of your purchase price within 30 days of your order. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service.

Disclaimer: The information contained herein is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as a diagnosis, treatment, preventive, or cure for any disease, disorder, or abnormal physical state, nor should it be considered a substitute for medical care from your doctor. On any matter relating to your health or well-being—and prior to undertaking any health-related activity—consult an appropriate health professional. The opinions herein are exactly that, they are the opinions of the author. Doctors Health Press and its employees are not responsible for medically unsupervised activities that could be harmful to your health. Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***. All of the Doctors Health Press publications come with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not satisfied with your newsletter, you can simply cancel your subscription and receive a pro-rated refund on all undelivered issues. For our books and special reports, we will give you a full refund of your purchase price within 30 days of your order. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service.